The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-01
GEN. GREEN CLAY SMITH.
How He Got Even With a Wash
ington Hotel Man.
From the Danvtlte ADVOCATE.

From the Darutlte advocate
The last and perhaps the only whisky transac-
ton Gen. Green Clay Smith ever had in his life
time came about in this way: Just before, or
about the close of the war, Gen. Smith was in
Washington City, Engaging a suite of rooms at
one OF the fashionable hotels he had sent to his
rooms ten gallons of fine odd Crow whisky
that had been sent to him by some friends in
kentucky. The key was soon exhausted by the
Generals friends, save bottle or two which he
reserved In case of sickness or snake bite When
the General went to settle his bill the account
presented to him ran thus: --
To suite of rooms one week 200
10 corkage forty bottles, at S1............. 40
Total. 81 ,240
Gen. Smith glanced at the bill and said to the
hotel man: Twelve hundred dollars is an ex-
orbitant price for the rooms, but will pay it.
The item for corkage l will not pay, as you had
nothing whatever to do with the whisky sent to
my room, and have no right to charge corkage
on It," With stroke of his pen the hotel
man Cancelled the corl1age item. Gen. Smith
drew his check for 81 200, and the receipted bill
was handed him. Upon the eve of leaving the
city for Kentucky Gen Smith presented the
hotel man with bottle of whisky, saying:
here, want you to taste the whisky you
wanted to charge me corkage on" The hotel
man sampled it, and pronounced it the best
WHISKY he had ever tasted, at the same
time requesting Gen. Smith, if possible, to pur-
chase at least five barrels of whisky for him as
soon as he got to Kentucky. Gen. Smith agreed
TO accommodate him, and bidding him good-by,
came to Kentucky. In a few days Gen Smith
went to wholesale whisky dealer in Covngton
where he found the whisky wanted what
can you sell me five barrels of whisky forf'
asked Gen. Smith. Three dollars per gallon -
replied the dealer "All right" said Smith
mere is check for your money. You ship this
whisky to Mr.. -, Washington city, and bill it
to him at $40 per gallon" The whisky was
shipped, Gen. Smith writing the hotel man that
he would be in the city in few days to collect
the Dill In person. In due time he arrived in the
Capital City and called on the hotel man to col
lect his bill. The hotel man met Mr.
Smith with a laugh, and said: well
General, / guess we are about even,
as you have made more than enough on that
whisky to get back your hotel bill; but have
made good thing out of the whisky, any
how. Come, now, it's my treat, and I'll show
you how l have made money and advertised
you at the same time" AS soon as the two
entered the saloon the first thing pointed out
to Gen. Smith was several posters hanging
over the counter, upon which, in rich gold
letters. was the following: Gen Green Clay
Smiths Old Crow Kentucky Bourbon Whisky
Guaranteed to be twenty-five years old Only
5Oc, drink" well WELL" said the General
Il have made 81, 400 profit on the whisky
which intended as an offset to your exorbitant
board bill. You take these posters down at
once and well call it square, and I'll quit the
whisky trade" And true to his word, he has
not since bought, sold or drank drop.